"Any way suits me," said Frank.
"You talk like you were dead certain of going along," remarked Jack with a grin.
"Of course I do. I know you could not be hard-hearted enough to leave me behind."
"Nevertheless," Jack declared, "I'm not sure I shouldn't leave you in command here."
"By George! That's no way to talk," declared Frank. "Hetherton can stick on the job here."
"Well, I guess it will be all right," said Jack. "We may as well pack what belongings we shall need. We shouldn't be gone more than a day or two."
"I hope so, and I feel sure we shall. There has been no sign yet of enemy activities in this water."
"And there won't be any sign in advance. When the Germans strike it will be suddenly."
The lads threw what belongings they believed they would need into their handbags and were rowed ashore. They proceeded at once to the pier of the Chesapeake and Ohio ferry and soon were moving along toward Norfolk.
It was a short ride to Norfolk. Arrived in the city an hour later, they inquired the way to the offices of the Washington and Norfolk Steamboat company, where they were fortunate enough to be able to secure a stateroom that night.